Map use in comprehensive city plans

This study examines planning maps to determine whether they include basic cartographic elements and follow good design practices, which result in effective maps. It also examines the role of city size in the production of effective planning maps. A stratified sample of 30 comprehensive plans published between 1987 and 1992 and included in the Index to Current Urban Documents is used, and the maps in these plans are evaluated. The map evaluation covers three key aspects: map elements (title, scale, neat line, sources, location name, north arrow, and locational inset); map design (balance, figure-ground contrast, hierarchical organization, and typography); and map content (completeness, accuracy, and lack of ambiguity). The study reveals that many planning maps do not meet the basic requirements for effective cartographic communication. It also suggests that city size does play a role in the production of effective maps, with smaller cities often producing better planning maps. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.